Martens, Shepley Make KARE 11 All Metro Team

KARE 11 All-Metro Team 2016: Defense

Each year KARE 11's Randy Shaver selects the post-season All-Metro Prep Football team. This is the 30th year of the team.

Congratulations to all the players on the 2016 team.

RELATED: KARE 11 All-Metro Team 2016: Offense

Defensive Line:

Jermaine Johnson II

Jermaine Johnson II, Eden Prairie

Our All-Metro defensive line is led by Eden Prairie's Jermaine Johnson at 6'-6" 220 pounds. He's a punishing player and he’s extremely difficult to block. Johnson has 37 tackles including seven sacks. He's such a great athlete and he's playing some offense now which makes EP even more dangerous. Johnson will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Sammy Byrd

Sammy Byrd, Centennial

Centennial's Sammy Byrd had a fabulous senior season for the Cougars in the defensive trenches. He's 6-foot 260 pounds and very difficult to block. He finished with 59 total tackles, 9 for losses. He was named the West Metro North defensive lineman of the year. Sam is a four year starter and will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Graham DeVore

Graham DeVore, Mahtomedi

Mahtomedi Defensive end Graham DeVore is headed to North Dakota on scholarship. At 6'-5" 220, the senior is a big time player. He finished with 55 tackles, 14 for losses including six sacks. He also plays tight end on offense and is a devastating blocker. Graham will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase game in December.

James Jackson

James Jackson, Cretin-Derham Hall

Stillwater head coach Beau LeBore describes James Jackson of Cretin-Derham Hall as a "freak of nature." That's because Jackson is an incredible athlete. Jackson was voted the East Metro Blue Defensive lineman of the Year. Jackson, at 6'-2" 220 pounds was very difficult to block finishing with 62 tackles, eight for losses. He will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase.

Linebackers:

Dan Anderson

Dan Anderson, Eden Prairie

The leading tackler for another great defense is linebacker Dan Anderson of Eden Prairie. Anderson is as active a linebacker as head coach Mike Grant has ever had at EP. The senior is 6-0 215, and has made 71 tackles, 11 for losses. Great instincts-great player. The Eagles are giving up just 6 points per game.

Boye Mafe

Boye Mafe, Hopkins

Hopkins High senior Boye Mafe is being recruited Division-1, He's 6'-5" 220. He finished with 78 tackles, 10 for losses including 4 sacks. Mafe was difficult to game plan for because he moved around so much and always made an impact. He was named to the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Charlie Waters

Charlie Waters, Totino-Grace

Our All Metro defense is led by Totino-Grace linebacker Charlie Waters. The 5'-11" 195 pound senior has 89 tackles, eight for losses this season. Waters has a nose for the football, for one of the best defenses in the state. He was named to the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Jamire Jackson

Jamire Jackson, Mpls North

Minneapolis North High's Jamire Jackson is a game changer at 6'-3" 220 pounds. Jackson is the leader of a Polar team which finished 8-0 in the regular season. He has 91 tackles, eight for losses including three sacks.
North is in the State 1A semifinals and Jamire will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Shea Gerrety, Blaine

Shea Gerrety of Blaine is dynamite in a small package. He's only 5'-9" 170 pounds. But Gerrety plays middle linebacker with the best of them. Gerrety is smart, tough and aggressive and fearless. He has 64 tackles, eight for losses including four sacks. Shea was named to the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Shea Gerrety

Defensive Backs:

Griffin Lanoue

Griffin Lanoue, Rosemount

Our All Metro defensive backs are led by Rosemount senior safety Griffin Lanoue. He was named the East Metro White Defensive Player of the Year. The 6'-4" 190 pound senior finished with 97 tackles, 8 pass breakups and five interceptions. He also caught seven TD passes on offense. Griffin was named to the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Jackson Martens

Jackson Martens, Burnsville

Many coaches in the East Metro White lauded the play of Burnsville's Jackson Martens. The three-year starter was a devastating tackler for the Blaze. He finished with 68 tackles, five for losses, with 2 sacks. Martens was a winner. In the last 3 years, Burnsville won 20 games and played in three straight section finals thanks in large part to Martens. Jackson will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Isaiah Cherrier

Isaiah Cherrier, Mound-Westonka

Mound-Westonka's do-everything player Isaiah Cherrier makes our defensive team. He finished with 46 tackles, seven for losses. Isaiah basically never left the field. He was named the Twin Cities Red Offensive player of the year. And his coach says Isaiah almost singlehandedly was responsible for the resurgence of the White Hawk football program. He will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Joe Russell

Joe Russell, Totino-Grace

Totino-Grace senior Joe Russell, a three year starter, is a big time safety. He's 6'-3" 186 pounds and just a great athlete. He has 51 tackles with three interceptions. He's simply an impact player on both sides of the ball.
Joe will play in the Minnesota Football Showcase Game.

Darby Grengs

Darby Grengs, Farmington

Farmington senior Darby Grengs was lauded by opposing coaches as a solid all-around player. He finished with 111 tackles and two forced fumbles. He was an outstanding two-way player. Grengs was a two year starter for the Tigers.

Punter:

Jake Shepley

Jake Shepley, Burnsville

Our All-Metro Punter is Burnsville's Jake Shepley - who was an all-around great player for the Blaze. But as a punter, Shepley was fabulous. Shepley landed 15 punts inside the opponent’s 20 yard line this fall. He averaged 36 yards per punt with his longest punt covering 71 yards.